Woman dead after shooting at auto repair shop

Bomb squad detonates explosive device at scene

Mary McGrath, a Saab repair shop employee, was shot to death on Commerce Street Friday afternoon.

Broomfield Police and North Metro Fire responded to the scene around 2:30 p.m. after a call of shots fired at East of Sweden Saab repair shop at 155 Commerce St. Police arrested a 62-year-old Broomfield man in connection with the shooting.

Police did not identify the victim or the suspect, but family friends confirmed Mary McGrath, an employee at East of Sweden, died in the shooting.

She suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Aaron Gagne, a friend and spokesman for the family, on Friday evening said the family declined to comment, because they had not had time to process the tragedy.

McGrath was a Broomfield resident.

The Adams County Bomb Squad was called to the scene shortly after the suspect's arrest, because witnesses indicated there could be bomb in his car.

The bomb squad used a robot to remove what appeared to be a backpack from a red Saab in the parking lot. Something inside the backpack was detonated after it was placed on the street. The explosion did not result in a fire.

Police did not release many details about the detonation, stating only that that a "suspicious device from the suspect's vehicle" was detonated.

Shortly before 6:30 p.m., Broomfield Sgt. David Walts said another, bigger controlled detonation would be conducted, but the bomb squad, police and fire personnel left the scene just after 7:15 without detonating any other items.

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Roads in the area -- including the offramp from westbound U.S. 36 to Wadsworth Boulevard -- were closed while the bomb squad searched for explosives. The closure of the ramp was lifted around 6:30 p.m.

The registered agent for East of Sweden is Robert Paul Wisdom, according to a search of Colorado Secretary of State records. A listing on the Better Business Bureau Website for East of Sweden Broomfield, Inc. shows Wisdom as the company's owner and lists McGrath as the main customer contact.

Attempts to find a number or address for Wisdom have been unsuccessful.

Businesses in the area were evacuated in the afternoon because of the bomb scare. Puregas, LLC employee Will Fitzpatrick said they were not given a reason for the evacuation, which happened before 3 p.m., and he did not even have time to grab his keys.

Puregas is at 226 Commerce St.

Dan Henderson, another Puregas employee, said he heard sirens and went outside. Officers told him a suspect was in custody and their business was safe. Minutes later, though, they were told to evacuate.

Around 3 p.m. employees of several businesses on Commerce Street were allowed back into the parking lot to get their cars, but were being told to leave immediately.

A 56-year-old Broomfield woman was shot to death at a Broomfield auto repair business Friday afternoon and a 62-year-old Broomfield man was arrested after police were called to a report of shots fired on Commerce Street.

Broomfield Police and North Metro Fire responded to the scene around 2:30 p.m. after a call of shots fired at East of Sweden Saab repair shop at 155 Commerce St.

A woman with multiple gunshot wounds was rushed to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Police did not identify the woman killed or the man arrested.

The Adams County Bomb Squad was called to the scene shortly after the suspect's arrest, because witnesses indicated there could be bomb in his car.

The bomb squad used a robot to remove what appeared to be a backpack from a red Saab in the parking lot. Something inside the backpack was detonated after it was placed on the street. The explosion did not result in a fire.

Police did not release many details about the detonation, stating only that that a "suspicious device from the suspect's vehicle" was detonated.

Shortly before 6:30 p.m., Broomfield Sgt. David Walts said another, bigger controlled detonation would be conducted, but the bomb squad, police and fire personnel left the scene just after 7:15 without detonating any other items.

Roads in the area -- including the offramp from westbound U.S. 36 to Wadsworth Boulevard -- were closed while the bomb squad searched for explosives. The closure of the ramp was lifted around 6:30 p.m.

The registered agent for East of Sweden is Robert Paul Wisdom, according to a search of Colorado Secretary of State records. A listing on the Better Business Bureau Website for East of Sweden Broomfield, Inc. shows Wisdom as the company's owner and lists Mary McGrath as the main customer contact.

Attempts to find a number or address for Wisdom have been unsuccessful.

Businesses in the area were evacuated in the afternoon because of the bomb scare. Puregas, LLC employee Will Fitzpatrick said they were not given a reason for the evacuation, which happened before 3 p.m., and he did not even have time to grab his keys.

Puregas is at 226 Commerce St.

Dan Henderson, another Puregas employee, said he heard sirens and went outside. Officers told him a suspect was in custody and their business was safe. Minutes later, though, they were told to evacuate.

Around 3 p.m. employees of several businesses on Commerce Street were allowed back into the parking lot to get their cars, but were being told to leave immediately.

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